Vukmir, Nicholson land key endorsements in GOP Senate contest

It’s game on in the Republican contest to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin next year.

State Sen. Leah Vukmir of Brookfield, who hasn’t officially entered the race, confirmed that two of the most prominent Republican financial backers in Wisconsin have signed on to her potential campaign.

Beloit billionaire Diane Hendricks, owner of ABC Supply, will serve as Vukmir’s finance cochair, while Mary Kohler will be on her campaign committee, Vukmir confirmed in a text to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Kohler is the widow of Terry Kohler, a Republican activist who was president of Windway Capital Corp., in Sheboygan. Over the years, the Kohlers have contributed millions of dollars to Republican candidates and groups.

The moves were first reported by conservative talk show host Mark Belling.

Securing these two deep-pocketed Republicans will allow Vukmir to compete with Delafield businessman and U.S. Marine veteran Kevin Nicholson, the only announced candidate in the GOP race.

Nicholson earned a critical endorsement this week from the Club for Growth PAC, a powerful pro-business organization that has helped sway races in Wisconsin.

Earlier, Nicholson received backing from a super PAC financed by Richard Uihlein, co-owner of Uline Corp. Richard Uihlein has already put $3.5 million into the PAC.

He also contributed $1.5 million to Club for Growth in May, 2017.

Also considering a GOP bid is Madison businessman Eric Hovde, who finished second to former Gov. Tommy Thompson in the Republican Senate primary in 2012.